Former President Trump late Wednesday cautioned lawmakers against agreeing to a deal on border policy unless Republicans got everything needed to shut down the flow of migrants into the United States, potentially complicating efforts to reach a bipartisan compromise in Congress.
“I do not think we should do a Border Deal, at all, unless we get EVERYTHING needed to shut down the INVASION of Millions & Millions of people, many from parts unknown, into our once great, but soon to be great again, Country!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“Also, I have no doubt that our wonderful Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, will only make a deal that is PERFECT ON THE BORDER,” Trump wrote. “Remember, without Strong Borders and Honest Elections, we don’t have a Country!!!”
Trump’s comments came hours after Johnson and other congressional leaders met with White House officials to discuss the path forward on a national security funding request from the Biden administration that includes funding for Ukraine in its war against Russia, as well as money for Israel and border security.
Lawmakers said the intent of the meeting was to highlight that Congress is running out of time to pass an emergency supplemental and that the primary intended audience was Johnson, who has pushed back against the emerging Senate border deal amid pressure from conservatives in his own conference.
At the same time, Biden has said he is willing to make significant compromises on border policy to secure a deal for Ukraine funding.
But Johnson has dug in amid pressure from conservatives in his conference, and Trump’s commentary is likely to only reinforce the opposition of some Republicans to a potential bipartisan deal.
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) on Wednesday made the case Republicans are blocking a potential border bill from the Senate on “orders from” Trump, who is the leading candidate for the GOP presidential nomination.
“Rather than joining Democrats and Biden in good faith, bipartisan negotiations to make progress on immigration, they are taking orders from Donald Trump and actively obstructing a bipartisan border deal,” Raskin said.